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African American Church Leaders Initiate New Advocacy Network for Ending Hunger in Africa

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WASHINGTON-As millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa live with the threat of a severe food crisis, African American church leaders initiated a new advocacy network for ending hunger in Africa. Dozens of Christian leaders representing at least 13 different African American denominations and organizations recently gathered on Capitol Hill to learn about Africa policy issues that are important to hungry people.

President of Bread for the World Institute, David Beckmannn, called the briefing "a major milestone in advocacy for hungry people in Africa."

Politicians and experts on Africa policy issues addressed church leaders throughout the briefing. Jendayi Fraser, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director of National Affairs on the National Security Council, encouraged church leaders to keep the administration accountable for implementing the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). Proposed by President Bush in 2002, the MCA would provide an additional $5 billion by 2006 for international poverty-focused development assistance to poor countries that demonstrate the ability to use the funding well.

A new amendment proposed by Bread for the World and Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) of the House International Relations Committee would direct MCA funding to the very poorest developing countries, translating into increased aid for Africa. All of the nearly 50 church leaders participating in the briefing signed a letter to Rep. Payne to show support for the amendment.

Ambassador Edith Ssempala of Uganda emphasized the need for sustainable development programs, saying that "the time for handouts is over." Church leaders agreed the role of the church, as a civic presence in Africa, is to enable African people to effectively manage the affairs of their own country.

In addition to the commitment to form a broad advocacy network among African American churches, participants in the briefing decided to launch an African American Church Advisory Committee for Bread for the World. Bread for the World international policy analyst Ray Almeida praised the initiative, saying "an engagement with African American churches will be a source of empowerment for people of faith in many denominations and hungry people around the world."

Churches Represented at the briefing:

• AME
• AME Zion
• United Methodist
• Church of God in Christ
• National Baptist Convention
• Pentecostal Assemblies of the World
• The Way of The Cross
• United Way of the Cross Church of Christ
• The Apostle Church of Christ in God
• The United Church of Jesus, Apostolic
• Progressive National Baptist Convention
• Black Catholics
• National Association of the Church of God

Bread for the World Institute seeks justice for hungry people by engaging in research and education on policies related to hunger and development. Its sister organization, Bread for the World, is a 46,000 member Christian citizens' movement against hunger. Founded in 1974, Bread for the World's members lobby Congress and the administration to bring about public policy changes that address the root causes of hunger and poverty in the United States and overseas. Bread for the World is a nonpartisan organization supported by 45 denominations and many theological perspectives. Please visit our Web site at http://www.bread.org.

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